Top Best Criminal Defense Lawyers | 26221 Available

Kurt Stender is an aggressive criminal defense attorney who has practiced criminal defense since 2001. He represents clients throughout the Puget Sound area. His practice focusses on clients charged with all levels of crime, including DUI, domestic violence, theft, reckless driving and drug related crimes. In addition, Kurt also represents clients seeking to vacate, expunge and seal their criminal records.

“Being accused of a crime can cost you everything. For most, it is a scary, intimidating, and daunting challenge. With stakes so high you need and deserve an attorney with the experience and expertise who is willing to meet the challenge with you.. I promise to defend you as aggressively and zealously as if I were accused. My experience in the Pierce County Prosecutor's office as the Chief Criminal Deputy, Homicide Division Chief, Special Assault Team Chief, and DUI Supervisor will provide you an unmatched ability to defend yourself and to fight for your rights. Let me help you.”

Derek brings more than 20 years of criminal law experience to the Tacoma attorney team of Smith and White. His work as a prosecutor, judge, and defense attorney provide him valuable insight into Washington criminal defense law.. Derek tried hundreds of criminal defense cases, including in the state Court of Appeals and Washington State Supreme Court, as a prosecutor with the cities of Seattle and Kent. He’s worked on or negotiated more than 15,000 criminal defense cases ranging from DUI to felony crimes.. Derek served as a vice and narcotics liaison for the Seattle City Attorney’s Office and received the Seattle Police Department Chief’s Award for his handling of dozens of civil asset forfeitures. He has also presided over thousands of cases as a judge pro tem in Federal Way, Pacific and Des Moines.. He graduated with honors from Seattle University School of Law in 1996.. Derek volunteers his time to local nonprofits including serving as president of the Tacoma Art Museum Activities Council in 2010 for the museum’s 75th Anniversary Gala. He served as vice president then president of St. Mark’s Lutheran by the Narrows church council.  He currently serves on the Stewardship Council for St. Marks and assist his wife, the director of Sunday School for St. Marks.  He is a member of his sons' school PTA and is active in other local charities.. He lives in Tacoma with his family.

Christopher Taylor is the founder and owner of CR Taylor Law, P.S. Mr. Taylor has been in private practice for over 18 years. Mr. Taylor regularly represents individuals on a retained basis on criminal matters in Thurston County, Lewis County, Mason County, and Grays Harbor County on a range of offenses, including DUI, theft, assault, domestic violence offenses, drug offenses, burglary, trafficking in stolen property, arson, and murder. Mr. Taylor has been lead counsel on well over 100 jury trials and hundreds of substantive motions, and has the experience and professional reputation to vigorously pursue his clients' goals.. Mr. Taylor also has current contracts with Thurston County Public Defense and Grays Harbor County Public Defense as a conflict panel attorney, representing individuals accused of felonies, as well as representing appellants convicted in courts of limited jurisdiction, who are unable to be represented by the County office due to ethical conflicts. He also represents individuals seeking relief based upon the Washington Supreme Court's Blake decision in Lewis County on contract with the Washington State Office of Public Defense. Mr. Taylor is an active member of the Washington Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (WACDL), Washington Defender Association (WDA), Washington Coalition for Open Government (WashCOG), and the Thurston County Bar Association (TCBA). Mr. Taylor also serves as the private criminal defense bar representative to the bi-weekly Thurston County Superior Court Criminal Administration Meeting. Mr. Taylor is also the co-chair of the WACDL Rules Committee.

Mr. Torinto Marasco is a trial lawyer who has been practicing law since 2006. His current practice focuses primarly on injury accidents and criminal/DUI defense. He has successfully represented thousands of clients for injuries caused by careless people and victoriously defended hundreds of clients against criminal charges.. Torinto's training began in Las Vegas, NV where he worked for the state's largest personal injury firm. This was a high volume firm where Torinto was busy negotiating hundreds of claims each year, pre-litigation. Later, Torinto moved to Texas and secured public defender contracts with several counties. This gave Torinto a lot of courtroom experience defending clients in jury trials. With experience under his belt, Torinto was hired to work for the largest personal injury firm in Texas. This was also a high volume firm, but this time Torinto worked litigation and was scheduled for trial every month.. To further his knowledge of the law Torinto took and break from working and went back to law school to earn a Master of Laws degree (LL.M.). He graduated with highest honors in 2012. Today, Torinto enjoys a balanced practice of negotiating cases that should be settled and taking the rest to trial.. In addition to being a lawyer, Torinto has been sworn-in as Commissioner Pro Tem for the Stevens County Superior Court and is the current president of the local Bar Association. He is licensed to practice law in Washington, Texas, Connecticut, and New York. In 2012, Torinto was admitted to argue cases before the Supreme Court of the United States.. Torinto Marasco was born in 1976 in Los Angeles, California. His father is from Rome, Italy and his mother is from Ensenada, Mexico. Having parents from two different countries he grew up speaking both Spanish and Italian. Torinto is the oldest of two boys. He met his wife in college in 1999 (they are both left-handed) and they married in 2007. They have two children together--a boy and girl.. Torinto moved to Washington to explore the outdoors. Throughout the seasons Torinto is usually somewhere on a mountain either camping, mountain biking, or snowboarding. His other passions are flying and motorcycle riding.

As a former social worker, I know that supporting clients emotionally is equally important as knowing the law and how to fight a case in trial. The criminal justice system can be very traumatizing. I help clients understand their rights, the options we have to fight the case, and support them in getting their lives back on track.

Max Pines Law offers wise counsel, supportive service, and powerful litigation in criminal matters, civil rights, personal injury, and expungements.

I have been a member of the New Hampshire Bar Association since 1994.  I am a retired Police Captain with extensive experience in criminal procedure, criminal investigation, arrest, search and seizure and police operations, police procedure and other aspects of criminal investigation and law. I use my knowledge and over 20 years  of criminal justice experience to assist my clients in achieving a favorable outcome to their issues.. I also use my legal knowledge, compassion and understanding to work with my family law, divorce and child custody clients in their most troubling times.  I have experience in divorce, child custody, child support, parental rights, both father's and mother's cases, property and business issues in divorce and all levels of family law litigation.. I live in the Southern New Hampshire area and spend my time outdoors skiing, golfing, hiking, running, bicycling and anything else I can do outdoors!. I am a member of the New hampshire and Nashua Bar Association as well as the Family Law and Criminal Law practice groups.. I also believe in giving back to my community and I am on the Board of Directors of the Nashua Soup Kitchen and Shelter.. January 2025 – Administrative License Suspension (ALS) dismissed against client after Atty Mello took it to an administrative hearing.. January 2025 – DWI accident resulting reduced to a Negligent Driving after Atty Mello negotiated with Police Prosecutor.. January 2025 – Stalking Order against client dismissed after Atty Mello took it to trial.. January 2025 – .16 DWI reduced to a non-criminal Reckless Operation- Salem District Court. January 2025 – Felony Identity Fraud dropped, client plead to a misdemeanor with a fully suspended sentence.. December 2024 – Felony Criminal Threatening with a Firearm-reduced to a misdemeanor with a fully suspended sentence -Merrimack County Superior Court. December 2024 – Complicated four day divorce trial culminated in a win for Atty Mello client where client’s parenting time was increased, alimony eliminated and assets equitably divided.. December 2024 – Complicated divorce trial with multiple business holdings decided for wife who was represented by Atty Mello. She was awarded the marital home and all related equity.. November 2024 – DWI reduced to Negligent Driving-no loss of license-Merrimack District Court. November 2024 – Possession of Child Sexual Abuse Images-client received a fully suspended sentence- Hillsborough Superior Court-Manchester